Splash Entertainment

Splash Entertainment, LLC. (formerly known as Mike Young Productions, Inc. and MoonScoop Entertainment, LLC) is an American animation studio founded in 1990 by Mike Young, Liz Young and Bill Schultz that produces children's TV series. Splash also controls the streaming service Kabillion.

History

Independent era (1990–2005)

The studio was originally owned and operated by three animation producers, husband and wife Mike and Liz Young, and Bill Schultz (6 seasons of The Simpsons, Garfield and Friends and Bobby's World). The studio makes both traditional 2D and 3D computer animation.

The company launched a self-distribution unit in 2002.

On March 29, 2004, the company launched Taffy Entertainment, which would become the company's rights management and worldwide distribution subsidiary. Taffy soon launched a licensing unit in August. Taffy wasn't the same company as Mike Young Productions, both had similar instances.

Acquired by MoonScoop and rebranding (2005–2013)

In October 2005, MoonScoop acquired a 51% majority stake in both MYP and Taffy, with Mike Young (through Mike Young Productions, Inc.) retaining a 49% stake. In March 2009, MoonScoop announced that both units would be rebranded under the MoonScoop brand. with Mike Young Productions rebranding as MoonScoop Entertainment, LLC, and Taffy Entertainment being absorbed into the newly-renamed company.

Management buyout (2013–2022)

MoonScoop Entertainment, LLC.'s parent company, MoonScoop, entered administration in Paris courts in July 2013, but this did not affect the operations of the US company. In November, Mike Young filed a $5 million lawsuit against MoonScoop's US holding division for a violation of contract, deeming that his business attempted to purchase out MoonScoop's stake in MoonScoop Entertainment, LLC., but wouldn't let him do so. Young also claimed that he was completely unaware of MoonScoop's financial issues until the day the news were reported.

On January 27, 2014, Dargaud, through their fully-owned subsidiary Ellipsanime, purchased MoonScoop's assets, and a week later on February 3, Mike Young purchased out Ellipsanime's 51% share in MoonScoop Entertainment, LLC., and rebranded the company as Splash Entertainment, LLC.

Partnership with Cyber Group Studios (2022–present)

On June 13, 2022, Splash Entertainment announced they would form a joint-venture with French studio Cyber Group Studios called CyberSplash Entertainment. The two companies expanded their partnership in February 2023 to include worldwide distribution rights to Splash's TV catalog.

Productions

Television series

Feature films and specials

Dive Olly Dive and the Pirate Treasure

Awards

  • Distributor of the Year for 2007 (nominated for a second year in 2008)

Notes

References

Uses material from the Wikipedia article Splash Entertainment, released under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license.